deele the better But sorowe and bee carefull in thyne heart that Auarice and insaciate couetousnes reigne soo soore amongest them that to dooe almose they haue cleane forgotten for the common reliefe that they bestowe vpon the needy bee fayre woordes colored with Hypocrisye as alas good man God healpe the god healpe the. O counterfaited Christian god commaundeth the to healpe them and cursed arte thou of what degree soo euer thou arte that wylt not succoure thy poore neyghbour in his necessitie Bee penitent therfore in time for dampnacion hangeth ouer thy hed I suppose thou seest plainely inough what miserye and myschefe reigne euery where The poore bee despysed and Goddes woord so lytell regarded and thought vpon that that soore and lamentable saiyng of Esaye maie iustely bee spoken vnto vs in these daies It is an obstinate people vnfaithefull chyldren saieth he chyldren that wil not here the law of the Lord the .xxix. of Esai O noble Englande this lawe of the Lord thou hast moste plainly set forth vnto the as yet thy myserable state is soore to bee lamented for through thy obstinate blindnes thou prouokest God to stryke styll with durable strokes thou dooest not soo humbly submitte thy self vnto his blessed wil and testament as thy duetie is Thou arte neyther soo ioyouse ne yet so earnestly bent to haue it goe forward as God hath geuen the occasions within these fewe yeres It semeth thine hearte is setled on fantasies most fond and kepest olde dotyng dreames foo fast vnder locke yea and sauerest so much of auncient custome that the pure worde of God in thy spirite hath smal taste But heare a whyle and geue eare and thou shalte knowe more of thy duetie and determine thy selfe lowely to folowe suche histories as shall be rehersed vnto the gathered out of the lawe of the Lord. First considre when that holye man Esdras Preached vnto the people their eares were so wonderfully enclyned to the booke of the lawe and their heartes so enamored for the singuler delight they had to heare the swete wordes and pleasant promises of god that they could not but weepe the .ii. booke of Esdras the .viii. chapter Forsothe it was a greate token of grace to weepe for the feruente zeale and loue of Goddes worde Thei also made greate myrthe because they vnderstode what was declared vnto thē O happie people that so reioysed in knowledge What man is he dissendyng downe into hymselfe that wold not reioyse also to remēber what ioye and felycitie these people had in the woord of God and mourne nowe for compassion to beholde what spite and euell wyl many beare toward the holy Bible whose miserable blyndnesse is muche to be lamented truely suche is the pestilent malice of ignorantes suche bee the deceiptes and wyles of Ipocrites the one in league and full consente with the other labour with all subtilitie to wrappe the people in blyndnesse styl and yet openlye they faigne theym selfes glad and ioyouse that the truthe is come out but sorow and sigh in their heartes to haue it go forwarde Great pytie it is that any manne should goe about to endomage Christen men in the word of God For the greatest compassiō that we ought to haue on any one thyng vnder Heauen is on the rude multitude of Chrystians lackyng the trewe knowledge therof for Chrysten mennes heartes shoulde alwaies bee enclosed in that highe and heauenly wisedom of God consideryng that Ignoraunce is the most pestilent poyson that can reigne emongest men And to learne howe to abbolyshe the great and wonderfull blyndnes whiche hathe hadde a long course and continuance emongest vs thou haste the holy Byble playnely set forth vnto the and yf thou haue a hoole and a cleare heart thou mayest sone learne to folowe the trace of vertue thou shalte learne also to be strōg and quiete to beare al afflictions yea and shalte be able to enstruct suche as thou haste nouryshed to liue togither in an amiable conuersacion But alas there be many both temporal and spirituall that wyll neuer take the testament in their handes they passe lyght of it care not howe lyttell it is spoken of emongest them but if it come by chance vnto thē they esteme it as a geast nether welcome ne yet loked for Of what spirite they learne this of I muche marueil yf one call them counterfaited christians ryght scribes and Phariseis they set vp their brystels and fall in a rage Oh Lord suche are nothyng mindfull of the saiyng of Elephas vnto Iob receaue the lawe at the Lordes mouthe and laie vppe his woordes in thyne hearte and he shall geue the an haruest with suche plentifull abundaunce that it shal exceade the duste of the yearthe and looke what thou takest in hand it shall prospere Nowe Englande this Godly saiyng shoulde steere vp the and all thyne to shewe your selfes most humble and meke in settyng forwarde the woorde of GOD Surely thou deserueste greate glorye and hyghe estymacion yf thou bee agreable vnto his truthe And therfore shewe thy selfe euer couragiouse to promote his blessed testament and cease now to be styffenecked to desende thy supersticion and wilfull ignoraunce for this is playne no man shal bee excused by ignorance ne yet shal escape to geue accompte of his bailywicke Thou shuldest therefore obedientlye enbrace the liuely woord of God which is a thing most mete and requisite for all agees and degrees of men Thou shouldest studie the same both daye and nyghte and geue thy self wholy to knowe the Euangelion of Chryste for the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth to strenghthen them that are holie with him the .xvi. Cha. the .ii. Chronicles This kynde of studie is most conuenable for the professours of Christ and thus to dooe is the chefest puincte of our profession in Baptime whereunto yf you answere as saieth sainct Paule He that is most abiecte emongest you is better then they that bee taken to bee of highest authoritie emongest the vngodly the .i. to the Corinthians Let vs nowe therfore plante surely in our hertes the lawe of God Let vs shewe our selfes ioyouse to heare the eternal testamēt of Christ spoken of emongest vs Let vs remember well the saiyng of Samuell vnto Saull Thou haste caste awaye the biddyng of God and therfore the Lord hath caste the away also This shoulde be no lesse fearfull vnto vs nowe least the Lord cast vs away which maie and wyll not drinke of the well of the water of life freely that is the holy Bible most godly and syncerely set forthe in oure Englishe tongue For the whiche wee oughte with reioysyng heartes to saie O the lot of our felicite most luckely chaunged For where as of late we offred sacrifice vnto Idols now we be taught to offre the sacrifice of Iustice vnto our heauenly father Of late we were obedyent vnto al damnable rites and wicked supersticion nowe we be taughte to obey onely the Gospell which is saluacion
true discipline it stereth vp mēnes heartes more more against them It is requisite to pray for the amendment of this and that they wold vouchesafe to reade the Englishe Byble yf the zeale of it once entre into theyr heartes they wyll sone forget al peynes and trauell taken in appliyng the same Who is ignoraunte he that studieth the bible deserueth great praise and is honorable before God And cōtrarilye the prayer of hym that grudgeth at it is abhominable theight cha of the Prouerbes Woulde God therfore that you would read the Prophetes for there you shall fynd euidently that the contemnours of the Bible be hated of God abhominable before his eyes chyldren of Sathanas and enheritours vnto hel This is a myserable and terrible state for any manne to thinke on This wold make any christen conscience to tremble and quake This dilygently pondered who wold not lament with sobbyng and weping eyes the great calamitie and myserie of many a one amongest vs it seemeth forsoth that thei be cleane destitute of grace or els they would soone confesse that the fittest thyng that can bee for Christen men were to knowe the gloriouse testament of Chryst for in it bee conteigned woordes of life sentences spoken of Goddes owne mouthe his assured and faithful promyses wherby we haue oure iuste tytle to inherite his heauenly kingdome Woe be vnto hym whosoeuer he be that would not haue this so godly a thing knowē and taught vnto all agees and degrees of men Great pitie it is but that al men baptysed in the blessed blud of Christ should knowe his laste wyll and eternall Testamente And forasmuche as chefe Learnyng and vertue is to surmounte all other in good deedes and this is in no place so fully taughte as in the Byble where thou shalte haue plentyfull instructions how to worke after Goddes wyll and pleasure and howe to fynd remedie against al euils and accustomed vices what Englishe hert true vnto god faithful vnto the kyng wold murmure at it It semeth that suche men be past shame or els depryued of theyr wittes that wyll not prouoke tempte and stere all men to studie it Maie not a mā therfore with good reason be bold to wryte againste suche slouthefull sheapardes as stubburnely stande nowe a daies and care not for knowledge The frowarde ignoraunce of suche is a greate blot and shame vnto other honeste mynisters whom forsothe wee oughte to haue in greate pryce estimation and honoure and not in contempte or derysion for the offences of the wycked as some haue theym nowe for yf wee thus do we offend god greuously and to loode the worste of theim with checkes and tauntes is no waie forsothe to wynne them christen charitie wyll rather desire that suche ministers as haue noo knowledge in the Latin toungue as fewe of them haue would giue theim selfes some houre in the daie to reade the Englyshe Byble and wyll theym gentely not to be ashamed to lerne By this meane they maie recouer their estimacion againe This woulde bee a quiet lyfe for them and a full restraint to stoppe mennes toungues For soo longe as they whiche shoulde bee the lyghte of the worlde will willyngly walke in darkenesse disdainyng the lyght men wyll euer haue them in suspect and let them not thinke the contrary but that they must nedes suffre infamy disdain and other great strokes of Fortune Therfore frankely of their own courage if they haue grace they will busie them selfes in the Englishe Byble as men nothyng forgetfull of this althoughe in times paste thei lyued blyndly swarued frō God and dyd seruice vnder Romish tradycions yet maie they nowe in studiyng it learne to be discrete ministers God graunt that they would encline vnto it with faithful earnest couragiouse hertes Surely it wer a token of great grace and a cōfortable hearyng that this rumor might be spred abrode euery where In token that al the Cleargie of Englād ar penitent of false doctrine with one mynd wyl and voice all fully bent to set abrode the woorde of God euery one of thē in his pulpyt exhorteth the flocke committed vnto his charge to reade the Englyshe Byble and make a greate shewe that they woulde haue it goe forwarde Howe acceptable and pleasaunt this wer in the eyes of God the holy Prophetes bear witnes And also howe commodyouse it shoulde bee for the weale of this noble realme it nedeth no probacion For who wil denie his the greatest glorie for any realme is when the prynce is couragiouse to set forth the gospell and his subiectes obedient to receaue and promote the same Our late kyng and deere soueraigne Lorde that was as one verye graciouse and tendre ouer the weale of his subiectes and again nothyng forgetefull of his dutie towarde God For his parte cōmaunded the Bible to be had in euery churche His grace sente it out amongest vs in token and testimonial of his faithful and obedient heart vnto god Yea and in this doing he did but euen his bounden dutie and the office of a chrysten kyng For sainct Paule wytnesseth in the fyrste to the Romaynes that the lawe is not giuen onely to preistes but indifferently vnto al kind of men Maie not a man then with a sorowfull hearte greatly lamentyng the frowardnesse and obstinacie of the people vehemētly crie out as the prophete Esaye dyd they haue made the eternall Testament of none effecte Esay the .xxiiii. O wicked generacion which in those daies regarded no better the will and pleasure of their god O shamelesse wretches that so lightly cast away their god For their disobedience vnto the truthe they haue lefte nowe in memorie a fayre iuell euē perpetuall shame Compare vs and them togither and you shal fynd that we be their cosen germains and confederate frendes Wee folowe a trade as wycked as euer dyd they We suffre the bible to lie in many Churches all dustye here vntouched there rase in this and tourne in that Not one curate amongest a great nomber exhorteth men vnto it The sheperdes forsothe esteme it very lyghte for whan they fynd men feedyng gredily on it because it is of a swete leare and a ground most plesaūt they chase them from it it semeth such sheaperdes seeke the distruction of theyr shepe Alas good men they ar so blynded with worldly wisdome rancoure and supersticion that it is a deathe vnto them to see other men reade the scriptures And yet they them selfes wyll neuer take Byble nor Testament in hand but sorowe sigh with greuouse gronynges whan they consider their great losse for once they liued lyke Epicures and had al thinges at their willes with their Images pardones and Purgatory thei illuded many a seely pore solle Thei dusked defaced the glorie of God made thē selfs rich Thei ruled kinges nobles at their pleasures and kept thē vnderfoote yea thei were euer checke mate with the kyng and ruled hym at their pleasure who so withstode
A Godly Inuectiue in the defence of the Gospell against such as murmure and woorke what thei can that the Bible shoulde not haue free passage veray necessary to be red of euery faythfull Christian The abundaunte grace of the holie ghost maye dayly prouoke tempt and stere vp the heart of oure mooste noble and vertuous King EDVVARDE the VI. king of England Fraunce and Irelande Defendour of the Faith and in earth the supreme heade of the Churches of England and Ireland earnestly to promote the Gospell of Christ to the mayntenaunce of true religion and vertue WHEN I had considered and weyghed often with my selfe that the lest part of amitee faithfull loue and duety which euery man oweth towarde his natiue countrey My mooste gracious and drad soueraigne lord is not shewed in the gentle admonyshyng his coūtrey menne of suche faultes perilles and daungers whiche either bee eminent or els playnly apparant yea and especially to attempte this thing when he seeth that there is geuē some great and plentifull occasion Euen now therfore I thought it good to set furth this Inuectiue in the defence of Goddes holy woord against all coūterfaited Christians wilfully minded whiche stubburnely resiste the promoting of Chrystes blessed Testament I truste wel therfore that your highnes especially and all your nobilitee with other your true and faythefull subiectes that haue earnest heartes to promote Goddes glory and to seeke for his heauēly kyngdome wil take in good part this my enterprice Wherin although ther want fine handling liuelye colours the conueighance of Rhethoricke and also quicknesse of Witte yet for al that there hath wanted no iote of good will for though I may most iustly confesse I geue place vnto all men in good learnyng yet I maye truely say I am inferiour vnto fewe in good affection towardes the same Therfore after this my rude and base stile of Inueiynge I haue here set forth the minde and pleasure of GOD thynges veray commodiouse and fruitefull for the weale of this noble realme profitable to auoide contencion and to sette amongest vs a louely societie of liuyng Nowe in asmuch as I entreate of causes so necessary most noble victoriouse Kyng I conceiue no smal hope that no man if godly exhortaciō may haue place in his heart will refuse accordingly to note print the same most firmely in mind especially such as the holy Prophet speaketh against they haue eies and cannot see they haue eares and heare not for they shall well and easilye perceaue that stubburnnesse of mind hardnes of heart the contempt of Goddes holy woord the forgetfulnes of the great benefites and Godly goodnesse of GOD to bee thynges most greuously condempned in holye Scripture Again those that be already bent and kendeled in affection to attayne the knowledge and due obedience that apperteine to Christes holy wyll and Testament shal perceiue manifestly theim selfes to knowe the summe and effecte of their creacion Wherof we shuld al be fully taught and often admonished also that we ar not borne to spend our time in pastime and vanities of this miserable world but to be busied in al seriouse Godly matters chefely desiryng to be instructed in Goddes holy religion to liue innocently yea and to excell in al kynd of vertues For who so desireth not to liue well as Diogenes wryteth liueth vainly That is to be called a vaine life whē men rather shew them selfes beastes mortal then men Immortal regardyng altogether the bodye that vile and beastely parte of man But nowe the pamperyng of it laied apart yf we would considre the great and exuberant glory of the spirite or solle of man if we wold weigh what strength power and vertue remayne in the minde wee woulde bee sone perswaded to folow Godly thinges and flee the wicked But more it is pitie suche is the miserable misery of the world in these daies that according vnto the saiyng of the holy Prophete Woe is me al is ful of sinners whiche offend of purpose and malice Esaie the .xxiiii. These wilfull offenders my soueraigne Lorde bee suche as maliciously spurne agaynst the liuely woorde of GOD and enuy at your graces pore subiectes enbracing and readyng the same vsynge subtyll and wicked perswasions to discorage men from the readyng therof whiche thing forsoth both requireth correction and spedye confutacion for the noryshmente of the younge and tendre knowledge that GOD hath sente amongest vs. Vndoubtedly the maliciouse and cankered stomackes are so playne and plentiful in diuers places against the word of God that no tong can be still ne yet heart permit with a dissemblyng countenance to winke at the great ignorance subtile cōueighaunce especially of suche as haue taken on theym to bee the lyghte of the worlde and guides ouer the simple to conducte theym to the true woorde of GOD. This thynge is soo euydent that euery honeste hearte woulde sorowe to see it and take peine to amend it and wee oughte to bee earnest in this For who so regardeth the wyl of GOD wyl openly defend the truthe of his Gospel and labour al that he can to winne mennes heartes to it Yea and to attempte this thyng the vertue of Goddes word geueth wonderfull strengthe and boldenes Euen nowe in consideracion of this I as one hyghly reioysyng to see the glorie of GOD so liuely set furthe emongest vs but sorowyng agayne in my hearte to beholde the supersticyouse and ignoraunt sorte so lyttell amended thoughte it full time to sette forthe this Inuectiue trustynge that after the readyng of it suche as haue wytte reason and iudgemente wyll remembre them selfes aryse and most reuerently mete the truth face to face and be no longer disceiued with counterfaited coulered and cloked thinges but from hens forthe ioyeouslye take in their handes the holy Bible and esteme it as the moste diuine and Godly thyng that euer came amongest vs yea and laboure with hande and foote vsyng sobre catholicke exhortacions to allure mē vnto it This shoulde be a meane to sette for euer amongest vs a publique quietnes true loue sure and faithfull frendshyppe By this meane forsoth we shoulde banyshe Ypocrisie and ignoraunce whiche bee euer brawlyng and stande in contencion for euery colde Ceremonie and tryfelyng tradicion For trewely where Ignoraunce Disdayne the contempte of Goddes woorde gooe at their libertie there must nedes aryse contencion brawlyng sedicion and controuersie in Opinions Yea where an obediente and humble heart wanteth toward the truthe there for euery lyght occasion thus men contend Thou art an Hereticke saith one thou arte a Papist saieth an other by this forsoth the worde of GOD is sore endomaged by this meane Godlye and brotherlye exhortacion is put out of place yea by this meane Sathan worketh his wyll and pleasure and hardeneth mennes heartes towarde the shining light to their owne condempnacion and vtter confusiō Now therfore my deere soueraigne who wold not lament and for veray pitie tendre the poore simple people readye
of menne as it shall apeare vnto the by these hys woordes vnto the Romaynes I knowe wel sayeth he there bee many whyche bee against the Gospell of Chryst by whō Sathanas goeth about to let the saluaciō of men the .xii. to the Romains And yf sainct Paul were nowe emongest vs he would saie some thyng It is to be thought he would breake out with a vehemēt sprite and saie O minysters minysters blynded with you knowe what through you the woord of God cannot haue free passage you stande gapyng for hygh and frail thinges of the worlde and bee nothyng myndefull that the Preachyng of the Gospell farre surmounteth baptyme Masse and all other vertuouse thynges vnder heauen I saie vnto you the preachyng of the Gospell is the moste pleasant worshippe and sacrifice that can be vnto God the first to the Rom. And for a farther trial of this reuolue all the byble and thou shalt fynd this playn that the glorioust lyfe that can bee for a minister is to preach and the shamfullest agen to be daintely nouryshed liue in idlenes for of this witnesse all auncient writers arise all other mischefes Nowe therefore who so hathe grace to remember his duety and hath also a cleare vnderstandyng in the holy scriptures wil say no lesse then sainct Paule dyd Woe be vnto me yf I preach not and set out the glory of God By this mean it should be easie for all ministers of the church to take away the great grefe and hatred out of all mēnes stomakes The cause truely why many report so euel of the Cleargie is their manifest sluggyshenes and styffenes of mynde whereby they shewe them selfes salse and faint hearted toward the woorde of God This I say is the cause of their gret infamy this is the cause that they are had nowe in suche disdaine It is muche maruail thei do not perceiue their owne perdicion Wonderful it is that they can not smell why they are soo despysed Let them weigh the matter well and they cannot but confesse that it is no small infamye for theym whiche should be of great knowledge and experte in the Scryptures to bee founde as many are who so lysteth to put the thyng in profe and due examinacion very Ideottes and of no knowledge and the occasion of this is they are so choked with wilful ignorance that they wyl not once loke on the bible They so perswade thē selfes that thei saie al is wel inough and remayn still euen hard hearted Pharoes towarde the shinyng lyghte and as deefe as any doore nayle yf a manne wyll them to studie pitie it is that any suche miserable miserye shoulde reygne amongest them But alas suche is the vayne vanitie of this worlde They thynke styll that pompe and dignitie bryng estimacion but the people haue nowe suche a syght that euery manne perceueth vertue to be a treasure worthy commendacion and that for vertues sake euery minyster is worthye double honour and not for his dignitie And many perceiue right wel also that honor pōpe and dignite were the bryngers in of the Bishoppe of Rome and suche as Preache intermyngled doctryne for the mayntenaunce of any suche lyke dignitie and worldely estimacion the people can soone espie theyr flattery in Preachynge can not nowe bee cloked There can no couert shadow theyr craftie conueiance especially before suche as haue busied thē selfes in the doctrine of sainct Paule whiche writeth thus Thei that wold perswade you contrarye thynges vnto those that I haue taughte you folowe not GOD but mennes desires and serue theyr owne vauntage glorye and tirannye and by all meanes possyble beware of suche The fyfthe to the Galathians Forsoth it woulde make men to wondre and to bee sore amased yf they would search forth old auncient histories to note what myschefe menne haue wroughte for theyr owne aduauntage and especially to atteine fame and glory either by hoke or croke they passed not whether Glorie as a thousand histories make mencion hath euer been a staie to keepe in the truthe It is playne that it hathe called many a man from the studye of the Byble and whosoeuer is geuen to maintein glory after his wicked will shall neuer agree with the Gospell of Chryste Dyd not the Iewes I pray the to maynteygne theyr lawe whyche was pompe dignytie and supersticion slaye the aucthour of lyfe and ryghtewysenes The eyghte Chapyter to the Romayns Yet forsoth they sawe the lyghte but malice blynded theyr eyes they hearde the Gospell but rancoure of hearte stopped theyr eares The .x. chap. to the Romaines They wer people of Goddes first electiō but they refused his doctrine and for their incredulitie they were afterward reiecte and cast of for naught The cause was they were so geuen to colde ceremonies that they could not brooke the Gospell It was the hardest peece of worke that euer Saincte Paule had to frame them vnto Christ they stode euer so styffe in the defence of their auncient customes cloked and fained religion yea thei feared so muche the fal of their gloriouse kyngdōe that as ye may reade they were soone confederate togither in myschefe and agreed all on this quickely to make away Chryst and al his disciples They perceaued wel inough that yf his doctrine had free course thei might then take leaue of honour pompe and dignitie wherein rested all their presente cōfort ioye and felicitie They knewe well also that if the truthe were once knowen they could then no longer delude the poore symple people as they dyd witnesse Sainct Mathew And euen nowe there be as styffnecked children as euer were they Attempte the thyng who lusteth and he shall haue his handfull to bryng some rooted in supersticiouse doctryne to credite the Gospell by the reason they giue suche confydence and are soo stayed with lewde persuasions of vnlearned preystes which vnder the colour of sheperdes plaie the righte wolfes on whose ignoraunce the holye scripture cryeth out veray terribly in dyuerse places yea it plainely pronounceth all suche to bee cursed and dampnable in the syghte of GOD whiche haue taken on theym the offyce of mynisters and promotours of the gospell and nowe subtilie with their policies woulde keepe it in staie Would God all such would graciously beare away the saiyng of saincte Paule I haue laboured saieth he with all my power to satisfie the office commaunded vnto me the fourth to the Corint If men had harkened vnto S. Paule in this poinct christen kinges princes shuld neuer haue ben so corrupted defyled with Romish doctrine as thei wer for the neglecting of preachyng desire of glorie and subtil wresting aside of the scriptures in the beginning caused ignorāce to beare such a stroke amōgest vs by litel litel the clergie wrought their feit turning true thīges to false vertue to lucar purest and beste to the worste Till the myndes of men were blinded altogither with wicked tradicions And nowe because suche as should preache be stubburne to restore again
Byble they that marke well sentences of grauitie and worthy notacion wyl not put reasō vnder foote and bee soo madde as to stretche their hand against the promoting of the gospell It is a token of a pestilente and wycked heart to murmure at suche as reade it For the time of them is gloriouse that gloriously spend it and cursed are they that lyue ignoraunte as brute beastes It semeth that suche esteme the hight and supreme wisedom of god to be vanities surely we ought to celebrat those daies with high ioye whan we once here tell that the ignorant sort geue ouer their enuious trauails against the Byble For then thei shall be greatly desired beloued and well named emongest al men thē shal sedicion and discorde take their leaue and enter no more in place Pitie it is that their yl intentes shuld condemne the Godly thinges that haue ben writen to winne them they ought to yeld and giue greate thankes to God that thei are deliuered frō Romishe auctoritie If they wold now shake of their old and dusty tradicions abate their depraued malice they mighte restore again their glorious fame and haue estimacion loue and fauour in steade of infamie shame and disdain Surely it were a thyng most pleasaunt in Goddes syght to see thē and the rude multitude florish in his word for in some places yet as great is the necligēce of the people as the ignorance of preistes And that they thus continewe weake wittes be not the cause but very slouthe and malice whiche cause them to folowe the corrupcion of auncient custome and to set their heartes altogyther on pleasure idlenes Thei thus folowyng their owne wilful intentes pulle doune styll the estimaciō of preistes And yf they would leaue the wyles of the worlde that nowe flocke togither styffely in blyndnesse appliyng their wittes to ēdomage other with their restye lyues cause sedicion and sclaunder vnto good ministers then myght Englande auaunce it selfe and saie Now shal I florishe and haue fauoure in goddes syght Nowe shall I be valiaunt in vertues worthy great fame For now there be none to troble and vex the poore sort peceable people bent to the gospell Nowe shal science augmente and men wyll drawe to the byble Truely I could neuer hete Antique historie alledged that men shuld not knowe it Now I shal weaken the hertes of mine enemies and make thē stande in dreade they wyll feare me more for my knowledge thē for al my valeaunt conquestes Now the heard hearted that were in credite and spred abroade the traines of supersticiouse doctrine and with blynd flattery begiled the symple sorte wyl do seruice for my common weale They wyll remember that men are but beastly by nature and Godly by their cunnyng knowledge And yet to saie further I haue often desired to haue vyces restrained and vertues augmēted that it wil now come to passe I haue a full trust for my drad soueraigne lord and supreme head Kyng Edward the sixt beginneth to be stable in the Lord and couragiouse in his woord and all his people within this his noble realme lyke louing subiectes be obedient vnto his grace perfectly taughte theyr duetie and obeisaunce Often Englād hath been in perill and daungier whē the people were weake faint and dull of vnderstandyng by whose meane it somtime hath loste the supreme heade and gouernour to it great sorowe and care But the pytiefull losse of noble Kyng Ihon shoulde perse euery mannes heart most sore and by what traiterous traines through false pretence he was caste awaie it is necessarye to be knowen whose noble and valiaunt vertues worthely to extoll I suppose no tongue is able That noble Kyng was soo broughte vppe in vertuouse and Godly bokes and toke such great trauell in the scriptures that thereby he espyed how the glorie of God was shamefully dusked and defaced with wicked tradicions supersticiō and Idolatry thinges most intollerable Then he quickely like a prince of courage and noble hearte spake openlye he wold redresse the pompe and glorie of the cleargie the gospell shuld haue free passage let them al saie what thei lust Thē they like a multitude of traiters turned themselfes from naturall subiectes into beastly rebelles They were soone confederate togyther lyke vile and detestable wretches to bluddie theyr handes on Goddes holy annoynted their deere soueraigne Lorde and gouernour al to mainteine Romysh auctoritie And to their dampnable intentes there wanted no trayterouse traynes for whan they coulde not deuise howe to kyll hym neyther with sword nor dagger they inuented policie Their daily ragyng and maliciouse heartes were neuer at quietnes tyll they had encouraged with theyr pestilent perswasions a sturdy blacke Monke to take saie vnto his grace of a poysoned cuppe when his highnesse valiauntly came into a certain Abbey where he stode in doubte and suspection of no man for al the brethren receaued him lyke Ipocrites fayned thē selfes mery ioyeouse outward but were sorowefull within They vsed ioyeful wordes but bare wicked heartes Thei sorowed not for repentance but at the sight of his graces presence whiche greued their heartes full sore then the Pryour archetectour of this heinouse treason and father of al mischefe espiyng oportunite of tyme brought in the Monke with his poysoned cuppe Oh Lord I maruel that his intrels dyd not breake to offre so fylthy a draughte to so noble a King I maruayl how his maliciouse hand for terrour sorow could hold the cup from fallyng Wonder it was that feare of god speach of people and shame of the world dyd not restrayn his propensed and wycked heart from that terryble draught deeathly vnto the Kyng and dampnable vnto hymselfe A wickeder deede and a more myserable myschefe hathe not been heard of O maliciouse and vnhappy Monkes O wretches I dare saie hearder hearted then Pharaoo and falser then Iudas or els the intestyne of theyr heartes woulde haue trembled and quaked to betray theyr deere souerain lord O wicked subiectes and beastes vnnatural I saie again O cruel wretches that soughte to make awaie hym for whose sake they should haue spent the best blud of their heartes yf these shamefull villaynes had red the notable histories of the Byble they would haue restreigned their cankerd stomackes frō consent to murder their kyng If they had read the historye of kyng Dauid and Saul and noted wel what reuerence loyall obeysaunce Dauid shewed vnto Saull although he knewe that he was a kyng vtterly cast of and refused of god If thei had marked also the wonderfull woordes and high displesure that king Dauid toke with his seruaunte whiche came vnto him either lokyng for herty thākes orels some great reward and said he had killed Saull The gentle heart of Dauid arose so at his woordes and grudged so sore at that heinouse dede that straight he promoted his seruant euen to as good a death as the gibet or galowes I thinke they woulde